Poll: Most are satisfied with their health insurance, but a quarter report denials or delays

An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults are satisfied with their health insurance coverage overall, including most older Americans and those on Medicare and Medicaid, according to a new NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey

An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults are satisfied with their health insurance coverage overall, including most older Americans and those on Medicare and Medicaid, according to a new NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey.

But there is an undercurrent of frustration in the findings, too, with nearly one-quarter of respondents saying they’d been denied coverage or faced a delay from their insurance in the last two years.

Overall, 82% of Americans said they’re satisfied with their health care coverage, including a third who said they are very satisfied with their current coverage. The group that reported being the most satisfied were older adults, with 9 in 10 Americans over 65 years old saying they were satisfied. And 42% in that age group reported being “very satisfied.”

Roughly 9 in 10 of those who have public health insurance coverage through Medicare or Medicaid also reported being satisfied with coverage, compared to 77% of those with private health care coverage.

The findings, which are consistent with other surveys, underscore the nuances of the debate playing out in Washington and across the country around health care and affordability. They also set a marker ahead of a year that will see significant changes and cuts to Medicaid and costs likely to rise for millions of Americans. Premiums for people who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, are set to spike unless Congress can reach a deal to extend subsidies.